Rutherford writes to John Gordon in 1637 that heaven is hard to be won, and many come short of attaining it:
Many make a start toward heaven who fall on their back and win not up to the top of the mount. It plucketh heart and legs from them, and they sit down and give it over, because the devil setteth a sweet-smelled flower to their nose (this fair [adorned] world) wherewith they are bewitched, and so forget or refuse to go forward.
May we not “forget or refuse to go forward.” May we instead persevere by grace!
